Device for directly playing multiple external audio and video source of computer

Abstract

A device built in a computer for directly playing multiple external AV sources without powering on the computer is provided. An AV signal from one of these external sources is presented on the computer's image display device (such as LCD) and audio device (such as speakers). The AV signal could also be presented on external video devices (such as TV, projector) and audio devices (such as stereo) via the computer's built-in video and audio output interfaces. When the computer is connected to multiple external AV sources, the AV signals from these sources could be presented sequentially in full screen, or they could be presented simultaneously in a split-screen fashion. The device could be controlled by control buttons located on the computer's casing or by a remote control.

1 . A device built in a computer capable of directly playing AV signals input from at least an external AV source connected to said computer without powering on said computer, comprising: 
 an AV processing module inside said computer connected to a bus of said computer through which data is exchanged with other parts of said computer, said AV processing module receiving at least an AV signal from at least an external AV source via one of AV input interfaces and I/O interfaces of said computer, processing said AV signal according to a user-specified presentation mode, determining automatically an appropriate playing format, and playing said AV signal via said bus to at least one of said computer's output interfaces and output devices; and    a switching device located on an electrical path through which a power source of said computer supplies electrical power to various parts of said computer and said AV processing module, said switching device coupled with a power switch of said computer so that, when said power switch is turned on, said switching device is set to a state causing said power source to supply electrical power to various parts of said computer other than said AV processing module, and, when said power switch is turned off, said switching device is set to another state causing said power source to supply electrical power only to said AV processing module, said bus, said AV input interfaces, said I/O interfaces, said output interfaces, and said output devices.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said output interfaces comprise video output interfaces and audio output interfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said output devices comprise an image display device and an audio device.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AV signal comprises a video signal.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AV signal comprises a video signal and an audio signal.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said image display device is a display built in said computer.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said image display device is an external display connected to said computer via a cable.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said audio device is said computer's built-in speakers.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said video output interfaces comprise at least one selected from the group comprising video-out terminal, S-video terminal, RGB terminals, DVI port, and a second VGA port.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said audio output interfaces comprise at least one selected from the group comprising line-out terminal and earphone terminal.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AV input interfaces comprise at least a video input terminal selected from the group comprising video-in terminal, S-video terminal, RGB terminals, and DVI port.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said AV input interfaces further comprise at least an audio input terminal selected from the group comprising line-in terminal and microphone terminal.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said I/O interfaces comprise at least one selected from the group comprising USB and 1394.  
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said power source is a power supply built in said computer.  
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein said power source further comprises a battery built in said computer providing its stored electrical power when said power supply cannot function.  
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AV processing module further comprises: 
 a processing chipset connected to said bus for integrating, processing, and playing input AV signals; and    a control interface providing an user interface for controlling said processing chipset's operations.    
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said processing chipset further comprises: 
 a microprocessor connected to said bus for receiving at least an AV signal input from said AV input interfaces and said I/O interfaces, integrating and processing said AV signal according to said presentation mode, and playing said AV signal on at least one of said output devices and output interfaces;    a ROM storing a firmware required by said microprocessor to carry out various tasks; and    a RAM providing temporary storage space during said microprocessor's computing process.    
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said control interface further comprises a set of control buttons located on said computer's casing providing at least the following functions: turning on/off said AV processing module, selecting at least one of said output devices and interfaces for playing said AV signal, playing/stopping, pausing/resuming, selecting a presentation mode, switching among a plurality of AV signals, switching among a plurality of regions in a screen, switching among a plurality of settings of said presentation mode.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein said control interface further comprises a display on said casing of said computer besides said set of control buttons for showing operation status of said AV processing module to a user during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein said control interface further comprises a remote control reception interface on said casing of said computer and a remote control providing at least a same set of functions as those provided by said set of control buttons, through which said AV processing module is controlled in a distance via a form of wireless communication.  
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein said remote control further comprises a display for showing operation status.  
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said presentation mode is to play a single AV signal selected from a plurality of input AV signals at any time by a user during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       23 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said presentation mode is to play a plurality of AV signals automatically, sequentially, and repeatedly in a loop, each of said plurality of AV signals is played for a period of time before switching to a next AV signal, said loop could be paused at any time by a user so that an AV signal currently under play would continue for an indefinite period of time, and said user could resume said loop at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein said period of time is determined by a user through said AV processing module at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       25 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said presentation mode is to integrate a plurality of AV signals simultaneously in a screen and to play each of said plurality of AV signals within one of a plurality of non-overlapping regions of said screen respectively, one of said non-overlapping regions is designated as a master region by a user at any time during said AV processing module's operation process, and said computer always plays an audio signal from an AV signal currently played inside said master region.  
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein a user determines how a screen is split into non-overlapping regions by selecting from a plurality of pre-determined screen splitting styles provided by said AV processing module at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein a correspondence between said plurality of AV signals and said plurality of non-overlapping regions is specified by a user at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein one of said plurality of non-overlapping regions is specified as said master region by said user at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       29 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein, when the number of non-overlapping regions is less than the number of input AV signals, said plurality of AV signals are integrated into a plurality of screens, each of said AV signals is played within a non-overlapping region in one of said screens, said screens are played automatically, sequentially, and repeatedly in a loop, each of said screens is played for a period of time, said loop could be paused at any time by a user so that a screen of AV signals are played for an indefinite period of time, and said user could resume said loop at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       30 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein said period of time is determined by a user through said AV processing module at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       31 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said presentation mode is to play one of a plurality of input AV signals in a full screen, other AV signals are played in a smaller overlapping window over said full screen, and said computer always plays an audio signal of an AV signal played in said full screen.  
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein one of said plurality of AV signals is selected to be played in a full screen by a user at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       33 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein one of said other AV signals is selected to be played in said overlapping window by a user at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein said other AV signals are played in said smaller overlapping window automatically, sequentially, and repeatedly in a loop, each of said other AV signals is played for a period of time, said loop could be paused at any time by a user so that an AV signal is played for an indefinite period of time, and said user could resume said loop at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.  
   
   
       35 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein said period of time is determined by a user through said AV processing module at any time during said AV processing module's operation process.